Virginia Tech Football: ESPN drops injury news ahead of Rutgers game

Leading into Saturday’s non-conference game at Rutgers, Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry has not given any indication as to who might play and who might not play against the Scarlet Knights.

Saturday morning, ESPN insider Pete Thamel on X gave updates on some of the Hokies banged-up players and whether or not they will see the field in their first road game of the 2023 season.

Thamel drops Virginia Tech key injury news updates Saturday morning

Thamel reported that quarterback Grant Wells and wide receiver Jaylin Lane were going to be game-time decisions against Rutgers. He also reported what was already known, that wide receiver Ali Jennings, injured in the first quarter last week against Purdue, was not going to play.

To make matters even worse, Thamel also reported that the Hokies were scheduled to leave Roanoke at 2 o’clock yesterday for their flight to New Jersey, but they were delayed six hours and did not get to their hotel until 10:30 last night. More than likely, Hurricane Lee played a role in that delay as the storm battered the eastern seaboard yesterday and last night with winds and rain.

As far as the injured players go, if Wells can’t go, then expect Baylor transfer Kyron Drones to start as he got a lot of the snaps in practice this week. The more concerning injury is Lane who is dealing with a hamstring issue. Already missing Jennings, not having Lane would make it that much tougher on whoever the quarterback is and the offense against a defense in Rutgers that is playing with a ton of confidence after wins over Northwestern and Temple.

Thamel did not mention defensive end Keyshawn Burgos or Nasir Peoples, who was absent from Wednesday’s practice, in his reports as both players were listed as injured this week during practice. Peoples did not play last week against Purdue.